Columns
What my transition taught me about how the world perceives men and women
“I know what it’s like on both sides of the fence.” You know what I miss the most about having breasts? People offering me free drugs (also: nipple sensation). I was born genetically female, and I lived that way for 16 years. By the time I was 17, I realized I wasn’t comfortable with this…
On the Chartreuse Couch: Gene Elder interviews Ann Kinser and Michael Mehl
Gene: Ann, Michael have a seat on the sofa. Thanks for joining me and millions of others around the world. Michael, we know you are the spark that ignited the fire for Fotoseptiembre and we should talk about that. And Ann you were a major highlight at Cornyation for several early years, and I know a…
Dad2: Retying the knot
This may be a shock to some of our friends, but we have decided to wait to get married! Well, okay, in our minds we have been married all this time: Ten years to be exact. I mean “exact,” as we recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of what has to be one of the most…
A polyfidelitous family fights to keep their kids
“My kids don’t see what goes on in our bedroom. We sleep.” After the housing crash of 2008, James Lowe, a former construction worker, moved to San Antonio from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. With him came Elizabeth. The two were close friends at the time and hoped to find a better life in San…
Full-body stretches for home and office
No fancy equipment or gym necessary—just you and a wall. Inhale like you are smelling something wonderful. Feel how your lungs are expanding. Continue to inhale until you cannot inhale anymore. The exhale through the mouth will naturally arrive. Imagine your mouth as a window and the exhale as a breeze escaping through the window…
Gene Elder interviews photographer Susan Riley
“My shots of Elvis Presley from a concert here in San Antonio have been lost to the universe.” Gene: Hi, Susan. Welcome to my humble Chartreuse Couch. I am so glad you could be here to talk about your photography for Fotoseptiembre. Just move those pillows over and sit and feel the love. Susan: Hey,…
Mutable, Changeable
It is a choice to identify yourself by what you can do rather than by what you cannot do. There was absolutely nothing that could have prepared me for the act of giving birth to my daughter. Regardless of the time spent constantly reading information about pregnancy, continuing my exercise through dancing, attending baby showers,…
Dad2: We’re in the Army Now
When my 11th-grader confessed one night at dinner that he was not ready for college and wanted to join the military instead, I was thrown. We hear those stories about the day we have to send our grown kids off into the world. With most of my friends, it is usually about…
Flibanserin Does Not Produce Girl Wood: An Addyi FAQ
The FDA just approved the drug flibanserin for women with hypoactive sexual-desire disorder. Most people were all, “Wait, what? Girl Viagra? Score!” when this really isn’t the case at all. I taped an interview with Charity McCurdy from WOAI recently about this drug and the impact of it (as well as hyposexual desire on relationships). Charity…